Quick report
- Red Flags
- Rapid Warming
This canyon has avalanched numerous times this season as evidenced by a classic toe area of bent scrub maple and broken branches, piles of different aged deposition located throughout the path as well as a fresh wet slide that most likely occurred on Sunday.
The Wellsvilles are a great option in the spring but you MUST pay attention to quickly rising temps. Because the upper bowls and ridgeline are sometimes out of view when ascending, it's wise to practice safe travel techniques to avoid exposing more than one person at a time. Always pay attention to what's above and around you.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We were able to easily trigger small wet sluffs at upper elevations by midday. We also triggered a few collapses as the snow was softening on our ascent. These indicate the possibility of wet slabs. We need some nights of deep solid refreeze to help stabilize the snowpack.</p> <p>Large cornices still exist at the ridgeline above most of the slide paths in the Wellsville Range. We saw evidence of several cornice fall triggered avalanches that entrained quite a bit of snow as they descended. </p>
Not quite corn yet but getting there. Lack of significant overnight freezing is keeping the snowpack soft, By noon we were already sinking deep into the snow on sun affected aspects.